جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ آَبَائِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ بَابٍ[ The Gardens of Eden, which they will enter along with whoever is righteous from among their forebears, their spouses, and their descendants, and the angels will call on them from every door, ]

Juz 13, Ar-Ra'd, Verse 024

سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ[ 'peace be on you, for your patience.’ How excellent is the reward of the (ultimate) abode. ]

Juz 13, Ar-Ra'd, Verse 025

وَالَّذِينَ يَنْقُضُونَ عَهْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مِيثَاقِهِ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَنْ يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ أُولَئِكَ لَهُمُ اللَّعْنَةُ وَلَهُمْ سُوءُ الدَّارِ[ As for those who break Allah's covenant after validating it, and sever that which Allah has ordered to establish, and spread corruption in the land, there is condemnation for them and an evil abode.]

Juz 13, Ar-Ra'd, Verse 026

اللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ وَفَرِحُوا بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآَخِرَةِ إِلَّا مَتَاعٌ [ Allah increases the livelihood for whom He will, and restricts (it for whom He will); and they rejoice in the life of the world, whereas the life of the world is but brief comfort as compared with the Hereafter.]

The above verse explains that those who judge a man's worth in this world by his wealth and prosperity and not by his Sahih Iman and good deeds, are wrong. The followers of deviant sects and non-believers often claim that they are the favorites of Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) because if they were not, then Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) would not have made them prosperous in the world.

During the life of Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) the rich and the powerful among infidels also had this erroneous belief that they were close to Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ). They considered the poor and indigent Muslims were under Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) wrath. They used to say, 'You can see for yourselves that Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) is with the chiefs of the Quraish and not with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) and his followers.

The above verse clarifies that this understanding is absolutely wrong. The real criterion for judging the people is from their truthful faith in Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) and His Apostle (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) and virtuous deeds.

It is in Quran -يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ [ O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. ] (Al-Hujuraat - 13)

The polytheists during Prophet's (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) time did not realize that if a miracle is shown on their request, then they have to accept the truth. If they disbelieve after the miracle, they would be subjected to a massive punishment as had been the case with earlier nations.

Juz 13, Ar-Ra'd, Verse 028

الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُمْ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ[ Those who have believed, their hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah. Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest! ]

What is invocation (Zikr - ذکر)? To remember Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ), and not to forget. The remembrance could be oral or in heart. It can be done while sitting, standing, walking or lying on your back . It can be done by holding your breath or without. The objective of invocation is mindfulness of Allah.

Different invocation have different effects. Most important invocation is the invocation of 'Islamic Testimony' (Kalima Tayyiba - كلمه طيِّبه) ' [La Ilaha Illallahu - لا اله الاّ الله] which has a significant effect in the prevention of evil considerations (Wasaawis - وساوس).

It is in Quran -شَرَعَ لَكُم مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا وَصَّىٰ بِهِ نُوحًا وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ ۖ أَنْ أَقِيمُوا الدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا فِيهِ [To you He has prescribed the faith which He had commended to Nooh (عليه السلام), and which We have revealed to you and which We had commended to Ibrahim (عليه السلام), Musa (عليه السلام) and Isa (عليه السلام) enjoining. Adhere to this faith and do not divide yourself into sects.] (Ash-Shura - 13).

The purport of the above is Islamic law (Shariat - شریعت). What is Shariat? Divine commandments are called Shariat.

It is in Quran -اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ [O' our Lord, guide us to the straight path] (Fateha - 6).

The meaning of Sirat (صراط) is 'Tareeq' (طریق), the way, path. Therefore, Tareeqat (طریقت) is to walk on the divine path.

It is in Quran -أَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ الْمُبِينُ [Certainly, Allah is the Absolute truth who discloses the exact truth] (An-Noor - 25).

It is in Hadith - إِنَّ أَصْدَقَ كَلِمَةٍ قَالَهَا الشَّاعِرُ كَلِمَةُ لَبِيدٍ : أَلا كُلُّ شَيْءٍ مَا خَلا اللَّهَ بَاطِلٌ[It is the true statement of Labied, the Arab Poet, in all these things nothing is created as spurious by Allah] (Bukhari).

Thus cognizance of truth (Haqeeqat - حقیقت) is to understand the Unity and Attributes of Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ). And this understanding is Gnosis (Ma'arefath - معرفت). To remain in Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) thought day and night is 'engrossment' (Mahwiyet - محویت). Its opposite is fallacy (Sahu - صہو).

It is in Quran - إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ[The true believers are those whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned, and when His revelations are recited to them, their faith is strengthened, and they trust in their Lord.] (Al-Anfaal - 2)

Juz 13, Ar-Ra'd, Verse 029

الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ طُوبَى لَهُمْ وَحُسْنُ مَآَبٍ[ Those who have faith and do righteous deeds, happy they are, and good is their (ultimate) destination. ]

To work for the acquisition of worldly comforts day in and out and forgetting completely about Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) does not provide happiness. Wealth is not a means of happiness. Happiness is contentment of heart which can only be achieved in remembrance of Allah and in doing good deeds.

People get involved in this world to an extent that they completely forget that they will have leave this world one day. Remember, death is a fact and it will come any moment, all of a sudden. While you are working for earning your livelihood, it is also important that you do not forget about Sahih Iman and good deeds. A balance in both these activities provides ultimate happiness in this life and as well as in Hereafter.

Juz 13, Ar-Ra'd, Verse 030

كَذَلِكَ أَرْسَلْنَاكَ فِي أُمَّةٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهَا أُمَمٌ لِتَتْلُوَ عَلَيْهِمُ الَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَهُمْ يَكْفُرُونَ بِالرَّحْمَنِ قُلْ هُوَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ مَتَابِ[ Thus We have sent you to a nation before which many nations have passed away, that you may recite to them what We have revealed to you. Yet they defy the Most Compassionate (Allah). Say, ‘He is my Lord; there is no god but He; in Him I have put my trust, and to Him will be my return. ]

Juz 13, Ar-Ra'd, Verse 031

وَلَوْ أَنَّ قُرْآَنًا سُيِّرَتْ بِهِ الْجِبَالُ أَوْ قُطِّعَتْ بِهِ الْأَرْضُ أَوْ كُلِّمَ بِهِ الْمَوْتَى بَلْ لِلَّهِ الْأَمْرُ جَمِيعًا أَفَلَمْ يَاْيْئَسِ الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا أَنْ لَوْ يَشَاءُ اللَّهُ لَهَدَى النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَلَا يَزَالُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا تُصِيبُهُمْ بِمَا صَنَعُوا قَارِعَةٌ أَوْ تَحُلُّ قَرِيبًا مِنْ دَارِهِمْ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ وَعْدُ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ[ Thus if there were a Qur'an with which mountains were moved, or the earth would be broken apart, or the dead were made to speak, (this would be the one) But, truly, the command is with Allah in all things. Don't the Believers know that, had Allah (so) willed, He could have guided all mankind? As for unbelievers, they will be visited by misfortune endlessly for what they have done; or it would sit in their homes till the promise (of punishment) of Allah comes to pass. Surely Allah does not go back on His promise. ]

The effect of Quran is such that mountains would move listening to it, or earth will be broken apart or the dead would speak the glory of their Lord.

It is in Quran -لَوْ أَنزَلْنَا هَـٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ عَلَىٰ جَبَلٍ لَّرَأَيْتَهُ خَاشِعًا مُّتَصَدِّعًا مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَتِلْكَ الْأَمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ [ If We had sent down this Qur'an upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and coming apart from fear of Allah. And these examples We present to the people that perhaps they will give thought. ] (Al-Hashr - 21)

Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) says that when these polytheists are unable to comprehend such a Quran, they will surely not accept the truth even if a miracle is produced before them. At that time they will say that it is a magic which has overtaken their vision. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) says that if He willed, everyone on the planet would have accepted the faith. This is not possible because of the exigencies of individual natures. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) knows before creating the individuals who has the capacity to accept the faith and who does not.

Juz 13, Ar-Ra'd, Verse 032

وَلَقَدِ اسْتُهْزِئَ بِرُسُلٍ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فَأَمْلَيْتُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهُمْ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ[ Many an apostle have they mocked before you; but I allowed the unbelievers (some) respite, then I seized them. How severe was My punishment then!]

When the prophets' message is rejected by his people, they are provided with a respite from punishment as long as there is the possibility that some of them might accept the message. But when there is no hope and only evil element remain among them, the collective punishment comes. The virtuous people, the followers of the Prophets are separated from the evil ones, and the entire evil lot is discarded.

In fact, even the collective punishment is the Mercy of Allah on future generations of the people who have accepted the faith.

Juz 13, Ar-Ra'd, Verse 033

أَفَمَنْ هُوَ قَائِمٌ عَلَى كُلِّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ وَجَعَلُوا لِلَّهِ شُرَكَاءَ قُلْ سَمُّوهُمْ أَمْ تُنَبِّئُونَهُ بِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَمْ بِظَاهِرٍ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ بَلْ زُيِّنَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مَكْرُهُمْ وَصُدُّوا عَنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ[ Who is it who stands (watch) over every soul for what it does? Yet they ascribe partners to Allah. Say : 'Then name them. Or are you announcing to Allah what He does not know on the earth? Or is it only empty talk? In fact, the unbelievers' plots are made to look attractive to them, so that they are held back from the right path. Whosoever Allah allows to go astray has none to show him the way. ]

Juz 13, Ar-Ra'd, Verse 034

لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَلَعَذَابُ الْآَخِرَةِ أَشَقُّ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَاقٍ[ For them is punishment in this world; and the punishment of the Hereafter is far more severe. They will have none to save them from Allah. ]

Juz 13, Ar-Ra'd, Verse 035

مَثَلُ الْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي وُعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ أُكُلُهَا دَائِمٌ وَظِلُّهَا تِلْكَ عُقْبَى الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا وَعُقْبَى الْكَافِرِينَ النَّارُ[A description of the paradise promised to the righteous (is) streams run in it, its fruits and shade are everlasting. Such is the requital of those who are righteous; and the requital of the unbelievers is the Fire.]

Juz 13, Ar-Ra'd, Verse 036

وَالَّذِينَ آَتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمِنَ الْأَحْزَابِ مَنْ يُنْكِرُ بَعْضَهُ قُلْ إِنَّمَا أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ وَلَا أُشْرِكَ بِهِ إِلَيْهِ أَدْعُو وَإِلَيْهِ مَآَبِ[And (the people who have accepted faith from) those to whom We have given the (earlier) Scripture rejoice at what has been revealed to you, (O Prophet ﷺ), but among the (non believing) factions are those who deny part of it. Say, 'I have only been commanded to worship Allah and not associate (anything) with Him. To Him I invite, and to Him is my return.']

Juz 13, Ar-Ra'd, Verse 037

وَكَذَلِكَ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ حُكْمًا عَرَبِيًّا وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ بَعْدَمَا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلَا وَاقٍ[(O' People) We revealed it (the Quran) as a code of conduct in the Arabic language, if you follow their (non-believers') desires after the knowledge has been given to you, you shall not have against Allah any guardian or a protector.]

Juz 13, Ar-Ra'd, Verse 038

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلًا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَذُرِّيَّةً وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ بِآَيَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتَابٌ[We sent many Apostles before you, and bestowed upon them wives and children, but it was not (in the honorable attributes) of any Apostle to come up with a miracle unless commanded by Allah. (Surely) For every age there is a law.]

Juz 13, Ar-Ra'd, Verse 039

يَمْحُوا اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيُثْبِتُ وَعِنْدَهُ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ[Allah effaces and confirms whatever He wishes and with Him is the Mother Book.]

Juz 13, Ar-Ra'd, Verse 040

وَإِنْ مَا نُرِيَنَّكَ بَعْضَ الَّذِي نَعِدُهُمْ أَوْ نَتَوَفَّيَنَّكَ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلَاغُ وَعَلَيْنَا الْحِسَابُ[Whether We show you (O' Prophet ﷺ) a part of (of the punishment) what We promise them, or take you away (before that), your responsibility is only to communicate, and it is for Us to do the reckoning.]

Juz 13, Ar-Ra'd, Verse 041

أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا نَأْتِي الْأَرْضَ نَنْقُصُهَا مِنْ أَطْرَافِهَا وَاللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ لَا مُعَقِّبَ لِحُكْمِهِ وَهُوَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ[Don't they see that We gradually reduce the land (in their control) from its outlying borders? (Where) Allah commands, there is none to put back His Command, and He is swift in calling (people) to account.]

Juz 13, Ar-Ra'd, Verse 042

وَقَدْ مَكَرَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ فَلِلَّهِ الْمَكْرُ جَمِيعًا يَعْلَمُ مَا تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ وَسَيَعْلَمُ الْكُفَّارُ لِمَنْ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ[Those before them had plotted; but in all the things it is Allah's master-planning, for He has knowledge of what everyone does. The unbelievers will soon learn for whom is the reward of Paradise.]